# Is anarchy in international relations a problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 27, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036 "2012-09-27T16:48:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/201 "2012-10-22T16:56:25Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Why not? Those in power in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany knew that they would be out of power and, today, Al Qaeda knows that one day they too will be out of power. You’re never going to give a substantive answer to any question are you **Kozmik**? Honestly, I don’t know what people are expecting. Are you actually thinking “This, _this_ will be the question that gets Kozmik to give a detailed lucid explanation of how his system would work. Sure none of the previous 300 questions got anything but meaningless gibberish, cryptic one liners, and references to Tom Arnold movies nobody ever saw, but my question will get him to open up and respond coherently!” I don’t even know if he believes his super-government really exists, or if he’s just speculating about how it might work. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/202 "2012-10-22T17:12:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Actually the Nazis said they were the start of a 1,000-year Reich. Propaganda. Did they say what would happen at the conclusion of this 1,000 year-Reich? > [@Marley23](#): > > Al Qaeda isn’t in power. They’re a terrorist group, not a government. I know Al Qaeda is a terrorist group. I know Al Qaeda is not a government. Al Qaeda is an entity. I [mentioned](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15616196&postcount=195) Al Qaeda being an entity. > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > You’re never going to give a substantive answer to any question are you **Kozmik**? I never give any answer to [complex questions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_question), **Larry Borgia**. You were more conciliatory [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15545000&postcount=62). What happened? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/203 "2012-10-22T17:19:00Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > I never give any answer to [complex questions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_question), **Larry Borgia**. There you go again! > [@](#): > > You were more conciliatory [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15545000&postcount=62). What happened? you were correct that there was such a thing as “cosmic top secret” which is a NATO term. It seemed made up to me, and google led me to a lot of UFO sites, but I guess it does exist. So you were correct on a minor detail. Overall you’re system still isn’t even wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/204 "2012-10-22T17:26:24Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Propaganda. Then prove they didn’t believe it. > [@](#): > > Did they say what would happen at the conclusion of this 1,000 year-Reich? I’m not sure. > [@](#): > > I know Al Qaeda is a terrorist group. I know Al Qaeda is not a government. Shrug. You said they were in power. If you know they’re not, don’t say it. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/205 "2012-10-22T17:32:24Z")
… Wait. In the **Kozmik** -verse, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were just \*pretending \*to be trying to dominate the world, while they were actually just following the directives of the Anarch? Does that mean that the efforts of the Allies were also just window-dressing, and several million people were killed for nothing? I am now no longer amused, but actively angry and disgusted that \*\*Kozmik \*\*is proposing such a reprehensible concept. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/206 "2012-10-22T17:38:39Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > … Wait. > In the **Kozmik** -verse, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were just \*pretending \*to be trying to dominate the world, while they were actually just following the directives of the Anarch? Does that mean that the efforts of the Allies were also just window-dressing, and several million people were killed for nothing? What about the millions of people killed in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia? What about [this](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/opinion/out-of-afghanistan.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0) letter to the editor published today in _The New York Times_ about the war in Afghanistan? It gets deeper. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/207 "2012-10-22T17:42:02Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > What about the millions of people killed in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia? They are included in the “several million people” figure. What about them? Are their deaths as part of this infernal mummer-show by your Anarch somehow less reprehensible than those who died in combat? And if you believe an op-ed letter saying we should get out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible somehow supports your delusions, you need professional help. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/208 "2012-10-22T17:44:32Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > I never give any answer to [complex questions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_question), **Larry Borgia**. You never answer any questions nor do you pose any interesting questions. This thread, like every other thread you’ve participated in, has hopelessly floundered on the rocks of your inability to reason properly. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/209 "2012-10-22T17:45:44Z")
Yeah. I am outta here. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/210 "2012-10-22T17:53:35Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > And if you believe an op-ed letter saying we should get out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible somehow supports your delusions, you need professional help. Well, sir, I disagreed with Brent Scowcroft who said, “There will always be war.” If only that letter writer was at the town hall debate. re: letter, “The war isn’t worth the death of one more of our brave soldiers.” I agree with that statement. Do you? How many people have to die in future wars, huh? The Onion even made a parody of it - Veterans of Future Wars. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/211 "2012-10-22T17:58:39Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Well, sir, I disagreed with Brent Scowcroft who said, “There will always be war.” > > If only that letter writer was at the town hall debate. > re: letter, “The war isn’t worth the death of one more of our brave soldiers.” I agree with that statement. Do you? How many people have to die in future wars, huh? The Onion even made a parody of it - Veterans of Future Wars. What the everlasting fuck does that have to do with anything you have been going on about? Do you even read your own posts? Can you string two thoughts or statements together to expand on an idea? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/212 "2012-10-22T18:08:01Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > What the everlasting fuck does that have to do with anything you have been going on about? Do you even read your own posts? Can you string two thoughts or statements together to expand on an idea? I read your posts. You [wrote](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15616527&postcount=205) that I implied that several million people were killed for nothing. The letter writer wrote that the war in Afghanistan is not worth the death of one more US soldier and, to expand on this idea - a question: Given that the deaths of 2,000 US solders were for something, would the death of “one more of our brave soldiers” be for nothing or for something? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/213 "2012-10-22T18:15:29Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > I read your posts. You [wrote](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15616527&postcount=205) that I implied that several million people were killed for nothing. The letter writer wrote that the war in Afghanistan is not worth the death of one more US soldier and, to expand on this idea - a question: Given that the deaths of 2,000 US solders were for something, would the death of “one more of our brave soldiers” be for nothing or for something? And yet we still have no idea how the Anarch controls governments. Answer one question and we’ll let you go off on tangents, but for now try to focus. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/214 "2012-10-22T18:25:34Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > And yet we still have no idea how the Anarch controls governments. Answer one question and we’ll let you go off on tangents, but for now try to focus. Fine. I will answer the question: How does the Anarch have control over governments? after _you_ answer the question: [How do governments have control over the people?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15615708&postcount=189) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/215 "2012-10-22T18:35:47Z")
So here we are again: the thread is going in circles. **Kozmik** , it looks like you are not willing or not able to answer direct questions. So I am going to instruct you to answer questions in a straightforward manner instead of playing games or referring back to older posts that don’t support your argument in the first place. You were asked, for example, how this Anarch figure controls governments. Answer that question. Don’t like to other posts and don’t change the subject. The same goes for the questions about Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. If you’re just unable to answer these questions, I will close this thread soon and I may shut down similar discussions in the future because it will be that much more obvious that such threads are pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/216 "2012-10-22T18:49:13Z")
And that is how you exercise power. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/217 "2012-10-22T21:01:17Z")
Did the Anarch get to Marley23? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/218 "2012-10-22T21:19:51Z")
Does **Marley** know that, much like Al Qaida, his reign of power will someday be over? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/219 "2012-10-22T22:29:29Z")
Thanks, Marley. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036/220 "2012-10-22T22:38:27Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > And that is how you exercise power. It remains to be seen if it’s going to accomplish anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anarchy-in-international-relations-a-problem/636036.md?page=12)